Narcos
Wagner Moura is one of the most famous actors in his native Brazil. For proof, look no further than the slew of Brazilian awards that have been handed to him for his performances in numerous movies, TV shows, and stage productions. However, people in North America will know him best for his role as Pablo Escobar on Netflix’s Narco, which ran from 2015 to 2016.
Here are five things that you may or may not have known about Wagner Moura:
Grew Up in Rodelas, Bahia
Moura was born in the city of Salvadore in the state of Bahia, which is a part of Brazil’s North-East region. However, he spent much of his childhood in one of Bahia’s municipalities called Rodelas, which is best-known for encompassing some of the Raso da Catarina Ecological Station that exists for the purpose of protecting native species such as the cougar, the Lear’s macaw, and the three-banded armadillo. It was not until the age of 13 that Moura’s family returned to the city of Salvadore.
Became a Star Because of Three Successes
From 2007 to 2008, Moura became a household name in his homeland because of three separate successes. First, there was his lead role as Captain Nascimento in Elite Squad. Second, there was his role as the villainous Olavo in a Brazilian soap opera called Tropical Paradise. Third, there was his role in a stage production of Hamlet, which should be familiar to most people as one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
Had to Undergo Training for Elite Squad
When preparing to play members of the special police unit called the BOPE in Elite Squad, Moura and some of his cast-mates had to undergo special training from a former captain of said unit. Part of the process involved repeated sessions of psychological abuse that were meant to cultivate the actor’s sense of aggression. However, the former captain went a little too far when he made a fictional threat towards Moura’s newborn child, which resulted in the actor fracturing his nose with a punch. To his credit, the former captain held no grudge but instead saw it as the moment when Moura’s character came into existence.
Is a Vocalist
Other than his acting, Moura is also known for being the vocalist of a Brazilian band called Sua Mãe, which translates to “Your Mom.” Besides his singing, he also contributes to the band by writing the words but not the melodies for some of their songs, which is why he is credited as a lyricist. With that said, it is interesting to note that Moura has also performed as a guest vocalist with the surviving members of a famous Brazilian rock band called Legião Urbana, which happens to be his favorite band.
He Is Trilingual
For those who have seen Narcos, it should come as no surprise to learn that Moura can speak more than one language. However, it might interest them to know that while Moura has been capable of speaking both his native Portuguese and English for some time, his Spanish is a much more recent acquisition. In fact, he had to learn Spanish for his role on Narcos by heading back to college.
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